LA committee asks civil-rights and economic staff to study Valley Glen video impacts, asks city attorney to consider amicus brief

The Civil Rights and Equity Committee of the Los Angeles City Council voted to instruct the Civil and Human Rights and Equity Department, with assistance from the Economic and Workforce Development Department (EWDD), to report within 60 days on the impacts of statements made in a Valley Glen video and captured in front of local businesses including Tigranikert Bakery and Cafe and Kalequia Art Studio. The committee approved the motion as amended by a request that the city attorney report back within 60 days on whether to file an amicus brief in support of any state actions and that staff identify any available financial resources to help affected businesses.

Councilmember Nazarian framed the motion as a response to "utterly defamatory and racist statements" in the video and said businesses in his district reported "up to 30%" declines in sales following the publicity. "I introduced this motion because we need to bring continued attention to the utterly defamatory and racist statements that continue to be spewed," Nazarian said, calling for a record to be built so those harms can be pursued through appropriate channels.

Diamond James, director of the Office of Race and Equity (ORE), told the committee the department will await council authorization to prepare the report under council file 260155 but can provide context now. "The department is saddened to learn of the reported 30% decrease in the bakery sales since the release of the video," James said, and described ORE’s role in documenting disparate impacts and recommending resources and policy responses.

Jomana Sayyasaba, director of the department’s civil-rights enforcement unit, outlined the unit’s authority and limitations, noting the city’s civil-rights law covers private-sector discrimination complaints for protected classes — including primary language and place of origin — and that the department has processed thousands of complaints since 2022. Sayyasaba said the unit can investigate private-sector discrimination complaints but must defer matters outside the city’s jurisdiction to other authorities.

EWDD senior project coordinator Caroline Kim Palacio described business-source-center services in the San Fernando Valley, pro bono legal referrals through Bet Tzedek, and outreach partnerships (including ICON and the Armenian American Chamber of Commerce) that could help affected businesses access language services, legal advice or marketing and digital-outreach support.

The committee added an amendment asking the city attorney to report on filing an amicus brief in support of any state legal actions and to identify potential financial resources for impacted businesses. The clerk recorded the motion as approved (three ayes; two members absent). The committee directed the involved departments to return with the requested report and any recommended next steps.

Next steps: the Civil and Human Rights and Equity Department and EWDD will prepare the council-directed report; the city attorney’s office will report back within 60 days on the amicus-brief question and the committee asked staff to identify available financial supports for affected businesses.